The Monson Law Firm is in Orlando, Florida for the 2019 Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee Conference. For the past 26 years, FIFEC has offered annual training seminars for DIF and SIU investigators, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, insurance carrier adjusters and management, insurance defense attorneys and others in the ongoing fight to combat all forms of insurance fraud. We are having a great time seeing our clients and friends!

The Monson Law Firm is pleased to announce the hiring of attorney John Mineo, who is working from our Louisiana office. John’s practice focuses on insurance defense with an emphasis on handling worker’s compensation claims for both insured and self-insured companies. John has successfully litigated claims before the Louisiana Workforce Commission and the Office of Louisiana Law Judges and is already providing our clients with a high level of service. Please join us in welcoming John to the team!

The Monson Law Firm is in attendance at the National Flood Conference in Washington, D.C. The National Flood Conference is the major gathering of all partners and stakeholders in the National Flood Insurance Program. In addition to spending time with clients and friends, The Monson Law Firm looks forward to meeting with FEMA representatives, insurance company executives, adjusters, agents and other key decision makers.

The Monson Law Firm attorneys Christopher Landry and John Mineo recently traveled to Madison, MS to provide in-house training for handling workers’ compensation claims in Louisiana for our client, Eastern Alliance Insurance Group. Eastern Alliance is a best-in-class workers’ compensation provider, with industry-leading products and services designed to help its policy holders and their employees – and make their lives easier. Pictured are: The Monson Law Firm attorney John Mineo; Eastern Alliance team members Darlene Gray, Kim Meyer, Becky Hillhouse and Amy Hardin; and The Monson Law Firm Special Partner, Chris Landry.

The Monson Law Firm is always ready to provide in-house training and continuing education. If you are in need of training, please contact us today!

The Monson Law Firm is in attendance today at the Lloyd’s Rugby 7s at the Richmond Athletic Association. There are now 40 teams playing in this fun festival of rugby, which is watched by over 3000 spectators. The day out is enjoyed by players and spectators alike. We look forward to spending time with our friends, both old and new, in the London market.

Matthew Monson will be representing The Monson Law Firm at this year’s PICG Conference in London.

The PICG Conference addresses and discusses salient issues that are relevant to the Property sector both in London and on an international basis and provides an educational and networking opportunity for claims practitioners within the Property sector.

The Property Insurance Claims Group (PICG) is a Lloyd’s Market Association (LMA) Claims Committee, providing a representative forum which allows discussion of common issues and concerns within the property market.

The Monson Law Firm is delighted to announce the addition of Chris Landry as Special Partner to the firm. Chris will lead The Monson Law Firm’s workers’ compensation section.

Chris is primarily engaged in the defense of Louisiana State Workers’ Compensation and Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation (including Defense Base Act) claims. He is also engaged in insurance defense and the defense of products liability, medical malpractice, nursing home, and employment claims. Chris has been elected as a Fellow in the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers.

Chris has tried numerous cases in Louisiana Judicial District Courts throughout the State of Louisiana and Louisiana Federal Courts. He also has extensive experience trying numerous State Workers’ Compensation claims and Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation claims before Administrative Law Judges. He also has experience litigating cases before the Social Security Administration and other administrative agencies.

Chris has been a speaker at seminars in Louisiana Workers’ Compensation law, United States Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation law and other general casualty issues. He has also co-authored several informative publications on both the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. Chris has also received an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards.

In the case of Americas Insurance Company v. Brian Jarreau, et al, currently pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, The Monson Law Firm attorney Laura Abel defeated a bad faith Motion for Summary Judgment filed by the insured and won a Motion for Summary Judgment on the issue of Additional Living Expenses (“ALE”). The insured alleged unsuccessfully that Americas was in bad faith because it challenged the appointment of Nader “Anthony” Odeh as their appraiser on the grounds that Odeh was not impartial.

The Monson Law Firm won summary judgment on behalf of Americas by showing that Americas voluntarily paid the ALE limits of the policy. The court dismissed the insured’s claims that additional amounts for ALE were due because the limits of ALE were tendered prior to the completion of the appraisal process.

The Monson Law Firm attorneys Matthew Monson and Rachel Flarity recently won a decision before the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal in the case of “Peter and Laurie Yaukey v. Henry Ballard, et al.” In this case, plaintiffs alleged damages and personal injuries from alleged exposure to mold at a rental property, including breast cancer, fibromyalgia, constipation and hyperthyroidism. During this matter, plaintiffs presented a demand for damages of $2,000,000. After deposing plaintiffs’ treating physicians, The Monson Law Firm filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on the issue of medical causation, which was denied by the trial court. On March 20, 2019, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal reversed the trial court and granted defendants’ request for summary judgment.

On February 22, 2019, attorney Joesph F. Lahatte, III and LaHatte Law Firm, LLC (together “LaHatte”) filed a 30 page RICO Case Statement in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Claims Consulting and Contracting, LLC and Nader “Anthony” Odeh.

LaHatte specifically accuses both Odeh and Claims Consulting and Contracting of the following:

The Monson Law Firm founder Matthew Monson and Texas office Managing Attorney Ronald Hornback will be in attendance this week at Houston Insurance Day! With 133 Exhibitors and 1800 attendees, this is one of Texas’ premier insurance events. We look forward to visiting with our clients and other industry friends!

The Monson Law Firm has been accepted for membership in the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA)! WSIA is the non-profit association of professionals and specialty market leaders dedicated to the wholesale distribution system. WSIA represents the interests of its members and the valuable role they play in the insurance market through networking, education, talent recruitment and development, regulatory and legislative advocacy for the wholesale, specialty and surplus lines industry, and by promoting the value of the wholesale distribution channel.

The Monson Law Firm has now been serving our clients for 8 years! What started as one lawyer’s dream has turned into a successful three state law firm achieving amazing results and influencing the industry. We want to thank our family, friends and clients for making this possible. We look forward to being there for you for many years to come!

The Monson Law Firm founder Matthew Monson and Darryn Melerine of MD Claims Group are at the Windstorm Insurance Network 2019 Annual Conference in Orlando Florida presenting “Annihilating AOB”. We look forward to a lively discussion of the current status of assignment of benefits and the successes against the proliferation and abuse of AOB.

Matthew Monson is in attendance at the 2019 Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference in New Orleans. Hosted by the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators, this growing conference provides interaction, education and collegiality among state regulators and industry professionals from 22 jurisdictions across the south. We look forward to seeing our clients and friends!

Attorney Lauren Baudot of The Monson Law Firm recently attended the 100th Annual American Farm Bureau Federation Convention and Trade Show in New Orleans. We enjoyed spending time meeting new friends and meeting with clients. AFBF is the unified national Voice of Agriculture, working through grassroots organizations to enhance and strengthen the lives of rural Americans and to build strong, prosperous agricultural communities.

The Monson Law Firm attorney Kevin Riche recently won a summary judgment motion on behalf of Southern Fidelity Insurance Company (“SFIC”) in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. In the matter entitled “Letitcia Wells vs. Southern Fidelity Insurance Company,” plaintiff made claim for over $200,000 in additional contractual amounts and bad faith damages following residential damage caused by a tornado. SFIC and plaintiffs agreed to the appraisal process, resulting in a confirmed appraisal award and additional payments to plaintiffs of only $13,406.12. In granting SFIC’s Motion for Summary Judgment, the Court determined that “SFIC timely reimbursed Plaintiff the undisputed costs of repair at every stage of the claims process”. Further, the Court held that “SFIC’s failure to pay Plaintiff the amount of the appraisal award before the award was given does not constitute evidence of bad faith.” As a result, the Court granted SFIC’s summary judgment motion and dismissed plaintiffs’ claims with prejudice. Pleaes click here for a copy of the Judgment.The Monson Law Firm has successfully used the appraisal process to efficiently handle first-party claims at lower litigation costs than the traditional “take everybody’s deposition” method, while at the same time greatly reducing the insurer’s bad faith exposure. If you think that you too can benefit from this approach, call The Monson Law Firm today!#NoBadFaith #Insurance #Winning

The Monson Law Firm is pleased to announce that attorney Katie Houlihan has joined our Florida office! Katie focuses on the defense of first and third party insurance claims. Katie has an expansive background in residential and commercial construction, risk management, insurance and fraud prevention. Prior to joining the firm, Katie served as general counsel for a prominent general contracting firm in South Florida. Katie also worked for over twelve years for a large national insurance carrier where she served as a licensed agent, special investigative unit analyst, litigation claim representative and outside counsel. Please join us in welcoming Katie to the firm!

The Monson Law Firm attorney Ronald Hornback recently obtained a voluntary nonsuit with prejudice on behalf of Lighthouse Property Insurance Company in the case of “Joseph B. Herrera v. Lighthouse”, pending in the 458th District Court in Fort Bend County, Texas, Cause No. 18-DCV-251288. In this case, the adjustment determined damage from Hurricane Harvey fell below the insured’s deductible. After a $50,350 demand was received from the insured, Lighthouse invoked appraisal to resolve the dispute as to the amount of the loss. The insured filed suit while appraisal was ongoing. The agreed appraisal award confirmed the damages were below the deductible. Facing a Motion for Summary Judgment to confirm the award and dismiss the case, the insured, represented by the Houston firm of Daly & Black, agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice. Please see attached Notice of Non-Suit here.